Corn harvester and binder



Oct. 30 1923.

H. J. CASE CORN HARVESTER AND BINDER Fld Jan. 15

1920 l0 Sheets-Shet 1 Oct. 3o, 1923. 1,472429 l H. J. CASE CORNV HARVESTER AND BINDER Filednan. 15, 1920 1o Sheets-Sheet 2 Mwah/frs oct. 3o, 1923.`

H. J. CASE CORN HARVESTER AND BINDER Filed Jan. 15, 1920 1Q Shetis-Shet s Oct. so, 1923. 1,472,429 H.l J CASE a CORN HARVESTER AND BINDERl oci. 30,1923.- 1,472,429 H. J. CASE CQRN HARVESTER AND BINDER Filed Jan. 15, 1920 A. 1o Speets-S'het .s

) INVENTO? manners LAVZAZ@ Oct. 30, 1923.

H. J. CASE CORN HARVESTER AND BINDER Filed Jan. 15, 1920 10 Sheets-Shet '7 /N VEN TUR A TORIUEYS Oct. 3o, 1923.

H. J. CASE HA72A29 CORN HARVESTER AND BINDER Filed Jan. l5 1920 l0 Sheets-Shet 8 wg@ @im A TTORIIIEYS' Oct. 30, 1923.

1,472,429 H. J. CASE CORN HARVESTER AND BINDER Filed Jan. l5 1920 l0 Sh'eets-Shet 9 Oct. 30 1923.

y H. J. cAsE CORN HARVESTER AND BINDER Filed Jan. 15l 1920 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 er M, dw @7M AnaB/#frs Patented Oct. 30, 1923.

UNITED STATES Luana PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J'. CASE, OFPOUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGrN'vIENTS,4

TO MOLINE PLOW COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF IVIOLINE, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OF VIRGINIA.

CORN HARVESTER AND BINDER.

Application filed January l5, 1920. Serial No. 351,673.

To all whom t may concern:

VBe it known -that I, HENRY J. Cass, a citizen of the United States, residing at Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State or New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn Har vesters and Binders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had there-- in to the accompanying drawing. 4

This invention relates to machines for harvesting and binding corn, in which the cut stalks are conveyed in an upright position through a stalk passage or chute to the rear end of thel machine and there boundinto bundles by an automatic binding mechanism sustained by the machine, and the bound bundles finally delivered from the machine.

The object `of the invention is to insure that the bundles of stalks be bound at the proper point in their length without regard to variations in the length of the stalks, and to this end the invention consists of means of improved form and construction for adjusting the binding mechanism as a whole in the direction oi' the length of the stalks, so that the binding mechanism may be caused to apply the binding twine to the bundle at the proper point therein, although the stalks operated on may be longer or shorter in different cases.

The invention consists also in combination with means for adjusting the binding mechanism lengthwise of the stalks, of independent means for adjusting the bottom of the stalk passage in a corresponding direction, so that by the combined operations Vof these two adjustments, stalks greatly varying in length may be handled with the minimum amount oit' adjustment of the comparatively heavy and cumbersome binding mechanism.

The invention consists also in various improvements in the machine as a whole, designed to render the same strong and durable in construction and effective and reliable in operation.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a. -front perspective view from its stubble side, of a corn harvesting. and binding machine having my invention embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the same from the grain side;

lFig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine from the grain side;

. F ig. l is a horizontal sectional plan view, showing the mam frame of the machine and certain parts directly supported therefrom; i

are connected at their forward extremities with the machine frame;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the machine; i

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the mechanism foradjusting and counterbalancing the binding mechanism;

TEig. 8 is a perspective View of a detail of the same;

Fig 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear ends of the upper and lower conveyor boards showing how the upper and lower conveyor chains are driven on the stubble side of the machine;

Fig. l0 is a perspective view of the adjustable ,bottom of the stalk chute or pas sag-e and the means for adjusting the same;

1l is a perspective view of a change speed device for the operating mechanism oi the machine;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a bundle carrier and the adjacent portions ot the machine; and

Figure 13 is a partial sectional plan view showing the detailed form of the ejectorV and the cam for operating the same.

Referring to the drawings:

The operative parts or" the machine are mounted on and sustained by a main frame l supported on the stubble side by the usual bull or stubble wheel 2 and supported on the grain side by the grain wheel 3. rllhe frame consists as usual of longitudinally extending frame bars, and front, rear and intermediate transversely extending frame bars, which bars are connected together to form a unitary frame structure, at the grain side of which the longitudinal bars are continued Yforwardly in the form of diverging extensions lfL thereby forming a passage in which the standing stalks are received as the machine advances. At the rear end of this passage is located af cutting mechanism 4 operated as presently described and acting to sever the standing stalks.

Arranged at the opposite sides of this passage and extending rearwardly to the Y' rear portion ofltlievframe are upper vand extend'froin a point seine distance in rearV of the front ends of the diverging extensionsY braces 9.

lowerconveyor 'boards 6 and 7 on the stub# ble side and upper and lower boards 62L and 7?k on lthe grain side. The lower conveyor boardsfare fastened to the rnain fraine and la rearwardly at an upward Ainclination as shown in Fig. 3; while the upper boards are arranged seine distance above the lower ones and extend at a siniilar inclination "rearwardly and upwardly freni the. for- .ward ends Vof the extensions 1a, divider boards V8 Aand 8a being sustained over therespective boards 6 and 6a in lixedrelation to the saine byV means of standardsl or An upperendless conveyor lchain 10 eX- Vtends longitudinally ofthe Conveyor board 6a and passes at itsV front aroundan idler sprocket wheel 11 on said board and at its rear around a driving: sprocket Vwheel l2 around splined to al lforwardlyinclined kshaft 13,'

the lower end of the shaft being inounted inVv a bearing let sustained by the main frame and the shaft extending upwardly through the lower and upper conveyor boards 7 and 6L and being inounted in a bearing 13u' on the lower board.V This chain is provided as usual with conveyor teeth which project into the upper portion of the space between the opposing conveyor boards; A similar lower conveyor chain 15 is arranged beneath the lower conveyor board 7, and passes at its Vfront an idler sprocket wheel 15a inounted on the fra-niev near the vfront end ofthe board 72L and at its A rear around a sprocket "wheel 16 keyed to the shaftlS-below. the board'7, the teeth onV this chain projecting into the lower por- Y tion of the space between the opposing f conveyor boards.

pposing* the conveyor chain 10 and arranged on the upper conveyor board 6 is a conveyor chain V17 (see lFigal and 9) which passes at its front around an idler sprocket wheel 1S on the- Y front'iend of the board 6 and at its rear end around asprocketl wheel 19 splined to the upper portion of a forwardly inclined counter-shaft 20 extending*V downwardly vloosely through the board 6 and through the .lower board 7 in which latter it has abearing 2l. `The .lower end of this shaft is ni'ounted ina bearing'in a Vbracket plate 22 liked to the inain fraine.'V This sprocket chain 17 like the opposing chain 10 is pro vided'iwith conveyor teeth projecting into thepupper portion ofthe space between the conveyor boardsa and co-operates with the teeth on chain 10 in acting on vthe stalks.

andY conveying thein towards the rear.

Qpposing the lowercliain 15 is a conveyor 'chain' 23 which .is arranged beneath the lower boardi7 and which passes at its front Vupright forwardly 'inclinedfshaft25 whose 1,473,424;Y Y .Y 1

around 'an idler sprocket wheel on Vthel framenear the front end of theY board 7, and atV its rear end around a sprocketwheel Y 24 keyed to theshaft 2() Vbeneath the board Y 7'-, theteeth on this chain projecting into the lower portion of the space between the conveyor boards and co-operating with the Vteethon the chain l5 in conveying the stalks rearwardly.l The idler sprocket wheel mentioned above has not been shown as it is siinilar to the idler sprocket wheel lV .e f Y Y yl'he counter-shaft20 is vdriven from an lower end isxQniounted in a bearing Y26 whence 'the shaft extends upwardly through abearing 27 in tliei'ear end V of the lower conveyor board 7, andV loosely'` through theA rear endV otv the upper conveyor board 6, this V.shaft being Vdisposed on the stubble side-of the space betiieenthe conveyor boards the inclined shaft 13 before alluded-to.

and in a position opposite Y TheV shaft 125 c has lixedto it 'a sj-Eirocket i Y Ywheel 28 around which passesea sprocket chain A29 which passes also Varound aV sprocket wheel 30 on the lower end ofthe shaft 20, by t which `means the latter shaft is driven. K

Near itsJ upper end the shaft 25-lias iiXed to it closelyiadjacent the boar-d 6, a feedY wheel 275" which is j )iovided'with'retractable teeth 25 which act on tlie'stalks' aiidfeed theni rearwardly Vinthe stalk passage and pan 31 which constitutes the bottoni kof the stalk passage and. which extends troni 'a point immediately in rear ofthe cutting 'Y mechanism Il, rearwardly at an upward inclination between the sha-tts 18 `and 25 and then laterally and stubblewardly and ter- Kiiiiiia'tegV at its discharge end Vatrthe stubble sideoffthe machine.' The/'sides of this panV are provided withupright edge flanges 31a *toV Vpreventthe lateral escap'einentiof the stalk butts. ann at its forward end the pan'V fis forined'with a 'flat portion or `linger ,31?

possessingrgoine degree of inherent tlexibility. v Thefingeris provided Vwith longitudi Y nal slots 31 which receiveV pins 31d dependingfrom a flexible 'plate 32V fixed tothe machinetrarne and immediately in rear of l thecutting inechanisnneach of said pins being provided on its lower 'end with head4 bearing against the Vvunder side of the linger and acting to hold the parts together. As a result of this flexible construction of the forward end off the pan it may be raised and lowered in the stalk passage and is capable of a limited end-vise motion, the purpose oi which will presently appear.

At the rear part of the stalk passage there are provided opposing vertical plates constituting the walls of the passage, a plate 33 on the grain side of the passage and a plate 34- on the stubble side of the saine, which plates are lined at their lower ends to the respective lower conveyor boards and extend upwardly therefrom and terminate some distance below the upper` conveyor boards. The plate 33 terminates at its rear Some distance stubbleward of the shaft .3, and the plate 84 is curved at its rear end so as to extend laterally and inrear of the shaft 25. These plates thus disposed form the side walls of the lower portion of the stalk passage, the pan 30 forming the bottom of the passage and fitting slidably between the plates.

rlhe operative parts so far described arel driven from the buil or stubble wheel 2 by the driving mechanism shown in Fig. t where it will be seen that a transverse horizontal shaft 35 is mounted in bearings sus`A tained by the machine frame in front of the bull wheel, which shaft has a sprocket wheel 3G fixed to it near its outer end and has two bevei gears 3T and 38 fixed to its inner end. A sprocket chain 39 passes around the sprocket wheel 36 and around a large sprocket wheel l0 lined to the bull wheel, by which means the shaft 35 is rotated as the machine advances through the lield. A transmitting shaft el is mounted at its front end in a bearing 4t2 on the main frame adjacent the inner end of shaft B13, and extends therefrom diagonally rearwardly and is mounted at its rear end in a bearing e3 on the main. frame between the two inclined shafts and Q5. Near its for` iard end the shaft l has a bevel gear lined to it which meshes with the gear 25S on the shaft 35, and at its rear end the shaft all has fixed to .it a bevel gear 45 which meshes with a bevel gear el@ on a iorizon tal transverse shaft i7 extending between the inclined shafts and 25 and mounted in suitable bearings on the main frame.

` it one end the shaft 47 carries a bevel lc'ea'r i8 meshing with a bevel gear '4&9 on the :51h-aft i3, and at its other end it carries a bevel gear 5() meshing with a bevel gear 5l en the shaft. 253, whereby the rotary motion imparted to the shaft from the bull wheel will be transn'iitted to the inclined shafts i3 and 25 through the medium of the transmittingshaft l-l.

The cutting mechanism before alluded to also-receives its .motion from the shaft 35 by means ofthe bevel pinion 37 thereon,

which meshes with a bevel pinion 52 on the iorward ei 1l o a V"t mounted ni beany i nie and carrying a lli disc to which is connected a pitman connected in turn with the reciprocating knife of the cutting mechanism.

rEhe parts hereinbefore described may be of the customary construction now well known in this art and except in so far as certain of these parts are modified as will presently appear to co-operate with my improvements, they in themselves forni no part of the present invention.

My invention is concerned mainly with the manner of adjustably sustaining the binding mechanism il". to enable it to be adjusted up and down with reference to the stalk passage, and in accordance with my invention the binding' mechanism is sustained on a transverse supporting bar 56 (Figs. 2, 6 and 7) arranged at the rear end of he machine, which bar is carried by two end members 57 and 58 mounted to move vertically in upright guide brackets 59 and 60 extending upwardly from the opposite sides of the main frame at its rear end, the two end members and their connecting bar 56 constituting in effect a slide, which when adjusted vertically by the adjustments of the end members will correspending-ly adjust the binding mechanism as a whole, and through the medium of certain connections presently to be described also correspondingly moving the upper conveyor boards, their associated conveyor chains, and the divider boards sustained by the conveyor boards. To enable the conveyor boards and associated parts to be thus moved up and down, the forward ends of the conveyor boards and their asso ciated divider boards are connected together as shown in Fig. 5 and pivoted to the diverging extensions l?L of the main fra-me on horizontal transverse axes 6l so that these parte may be moved up and down as a unit at their rear ends on said axes. The detailed form of these pivotal connections is shown in 5 where it willbe seen that the forward end of each conveyorboard has fixed to it a casting or bracket 62 to which is bolted a casting or block 63 to which the forward end of the divider board is firmly attached, the bracket 63 terminating .in a divider point 653s. The bracket (lf2 is provided with depending ears 62il embracing between them the forward eXtremity of the frame extension l, the pivot pin (3l beingextended through the ears and end of the extension and serving to connect the parts pivotally. on a transverse axis. As a result of this construction, the two upper conveyor boards, and their associated conveying chainsand the divider boards may be moved up and down units at their rear ends relatively to the rear end of the machine, the parts pivoting at their forward ends on the Vpivots 6l and moving alo'ng'the two inclined shafts 13 and 25 at their rear Y ends,V the sprocket wheelV l2 and the feeding wheel 25 in this action sliding along the shafts 13 and 25 respectively by reason of thel splined connection of said wheels .with the shafts Vas before described.

The operative parts of the binding mechanism A are inountedin and sustained by the usual U-shaped binder frame 63, which frame is arranged adjacent the disch roe end ofthe stalk` passage, one arm 54C of the frame extending in front ottheV passage and the other arm G5 in rear of the same, while the horizontal portion 6G connecting the lower ends ofthetwo arms, extends beneath the bottom of. the passage. This horizontal connecting portion 66 is formed with aV transverse horizontal opening therethrough in which the vertically adjustable sustaining rod V56 before alluded to extends, and a bracket 67 is fixed to the lower end of the arm and extends grainward therefrom fand-has fixed to it a rod 68 which extends forwardly and mounted at its forward end on the rod 56 some distancestubble- Y ward of the connecting portion 66by which means thebinding mechanism is sustained by and'niovahle as a whole with the verti- 'j cally-adjustable sustaining har 56. A vertical plateV G9 is Viiiiedly connected with the arm 65 of the ll-shaped traine, and is curved so as to surround the outei rear side of the vlat'eral portionfoi'. the stalk passage and Vforms in effect the rear outer wall of the passage at this'point. The forward edge ofthis plate has fixed to it a vertical bar 70 2 and 6)' which is extendedup-V warvdlyand is bent outwardly at its upper endend` firmly fastened to the under side of theV upper conveyor board G1L at its rear and, whereby in the up and down move- -nients of the bindingV mechanism and the lplate 69, the conveyor board will be moved Ywith it. The U-shaped frame of the binding mechanism is connected with the outer conveyor board@ to cause this board to move in unison with the board 6a, by means of an arm il (Figs. 6 and 9) which is connected at its lower end with the forward armbaot' the U-shaped frame, and at its upper end with the board 6. At its rear, the conveyor board 6a on the grainside ofthe stalk passage has a shield or plate 72 fastened to its under VsideV at its inner edge*7 which plate extends.downwardly along the Vinner side of the fixed plate 83V of the stalk passage. Likewise. a plate 73 is fixed to the rear portion of the'conveyor boardV 6 at its inner edgefand extends downwardly along the iiinerside of the fixed plate 34 ofthe stalk passage, so` that inthe vertical movements ofthe conveyor boards, when the binding mechanism is correspondingly adjusted7 theV dependingv plates thel fixed plates and-3i' and will form continuations of the same, and thereby preserve the continuity of,V the walls of the passage in the diferent'adjustments of the bindingV mechanism.v Y i The needle shaft 'wl of the binding mechaiiisni is mounted as usiialrin the tubular arm lG5 of the ii-sliapedfraine, and it carries the .needle "illu, while .thefknotter' shaft 75 is'V squared and slides through a. squared hole in 7 2 and 73 willslide alongsaY a sprocket wheel TT which the'sha-ft is Y driven, which wheel. isjjournaled in the upper end ot an ,arm 7T extending upwardly troni the machine Vframe, whereby in the vertical adjustments of tliebinding mechamsm, thesquared driving sha-ft will moveV through the sprocket. wheel and will be subjectto the driving action of 'the wheelV in the different positions of .adjustment of the binding mechanism. rihis shaft as usual gives motion to the various operating parts of the binding mechanism7 and in the present case' itis driven from the inclined shaft 13 before Valluded to7 by means of a sprocket chain 78 which passes around a sprocket wheel T9 on said shaft andaround a sprocket wheel 8() rotatably mounted on a laterally swinging-plate 8l pivoted at its Vfoiw'ard end as atSQ (Fig. 2) to an upwardly and tor# wardly inclined bar 823 hired at its forward Y end to the mainframe and supported at its rear end by the bracket 60 beforealluded to.

rithe sprocket wheeliSO has fixed to its upper Y side a companion sprocket 8st, anda sprocket chain passes around the sprocket Set and also around thesprocket' wheel 7T onthe driving shaft 76, by which arrangement the rotary motion of the; inclined shaft 13 will loo g be imparted to thedri-vings; shaft .76 ofthe binding mechanism. l

The binding" mechanism,V supported as hereinbefore described by the vertically movable-slide, is adjusted up and downby the adjustments of the end'members 5T and 5S in their vertical guide brackets 59 and 6G. To eflect these adjustments the end members are formed on their rear edges with racks 86 (Figs. l, 2 and 8) which are engaged'"byV pinions 8(jand 88 on the opposite ends of a horizontal transverse vshaft 89 mounted in bearings Von the guide brackets near their lower'eiidsand constituting a rotary device for adjusting the slide. Atthe stubble Vend of the shaft there is fixed to it at the outer side of the pinion 88, a worm wheel 90 which is engaged by a worm 91 on the rear end of a shaft 92,-mounted at its rear end in bearings sustained by the guide bracket, and extending forwardly and upwardly within reach of the drivers scat, at which point the shaft is mounted in a bearing 93 on the upper end of an arm 92B sustained by the main frame, the end `of the shaft being provided with a crank 94 for operating it. By the rotation of this crank, the end members 57 and 58 will be fed up or down, as the case may be, in their guiding brackets in vertical lines and the binding mechanism .as a unit correspondingly moved, together Vwith the rear plate 69, the upper conveyor boards and conveyor chains and the plates 7 2 and 73 depending from said boards. This movement of the binding mechanism isvin relation to the stalk passage, and its effect isto adjust the binding mechanism to different heights relative to the bottom of the passage,`so that the point in the length of the bundle at which the binding twine is applied may be varied to accommodate stalks of different lengths;

lt will be observed that the bottom of the rear portion of the stalk passage, the walls of the same and the frame members of the binding mechanism all incline forwardly from the vertical, and in the vertical adjust- .ments of the binding mechanism by the hand crank 94, the binding mechanism and parts connected therewith move in an arc having the pivotal axes 61 as a center, and they rise from the position indicated by full lines in Fig. 3 to that shown by dotted lines in said figure. In this action, the squared driving shaft 76 and pinion thereon move in said are slightly to the rear and thus tend to tighten the sprocket chain 85. To prevent this tightening of the chain and to maintain the same at a uniform tension under the conditions mentioned, I connect the free end of the pivoted plate 80 carrying .the sprocket wheel 84, with the frame of the binding mechanism by means of a radius rod 95 (Figs. 2, 3 and 6) the outer end of which is pivoted to the free end of the pivotal plate on a horizontal transverse axis 96, and the inner end of which is pivoted on a parallel axis to the frame of the binding mechanism as at 97 The effect of this connection of the parts by the radius rod is to swingv the plate on its axis and draw the sprocket wheel 84 toward the sprocket wheel 77 to the saine extent that the wheel 77 is moved rearwardly whenthe binding mechanism is raised. As a result, a uniform distance is maintained between the two wheels and therefore the tension of the chain remains unchanged.

As the binding mechanism possesses considerable weight, it is desirable to countera sleeve 98 fixed to the lever and loosely encircling the rod. At its forward end the Vlever is pivoted to the main frame on ahorizontal transverse axis as at 99, and between its ends the lever has Vconnected with it the lower end of a strong coiled spring 100, the upper end of which is connected with an arch frame 101 extending upwardly from and supported by the main A` frame. The tendency of the spring is to pull up on'the lever 98 and thereby exert a lifting and sus taining force on the binding mechanism, whereby it is counter-balanced and its movements eased.

The pan 31 constituting the bottom of the stalk passage and flexibly connected at its forward end to the machine frame as before described, is adjusted to different heights in the stalk passage as shown more particularly in Fig` 10, where it will be seen that the pan has fixed to its under side at its rear, the upper ends of two links 102, the lower ends of which are pivoted to crank arms 103 on a rock shaft 104 mounted in suitable bearings on the main frame, whereby in thefrocking motions of the shaft, the links will be raised and lowered as the case may be, and will correspondingly adjust the pan. The rock shaft has a crank arm 105 fixed to its end, to which is pivoted one end of an actuating rod 106, the other end of which is pivoted to a hand `lever 107 pivotally supported at its lower end on the main frame.

The hand lever is provided with a latch device co-operating with a toothed segment bar 107a pivoted to the frame, whereby the pan may be locked and held in the particular position to which it is adjusted.

' By the vertical adjustments of the binding mechanism, with `the bottom pan remaining at a constant level, l am enabled to accommodate bundles varying in length within certain limits, and can apply the binding twine thereto at the proper and effective point. This limit however, may be greatly vincreased by making use of the adjustable pan in connection with the adjustments of the binding mechanism, the pan being moved upwardly and the binding mechanism downwardly for extremely short bundles, and the pan being moved downwardly and the binding mechanism upwardly for extremely long bundles. As a further result of the co-operation with each other of the two adjustable devices, a greater range of lengths of bundles can be accommodated by a minimum movement of the comparatively heavy binding mechanism, than if dependence were placed fao on the adjustmentiof the binding mechanism alone.' c Y It will be noted from the construction described that the adjustments of the binding mechanism and the bottomV pan are effected ,independently of each other. I deem this feature of importance and advantage, in that l am enabled to employ either device singly Without necessarily using the other,V which might be desirable under certain vconditions encountered inthe ield. Y Y lt is -found in the'practical'use of the machinein the field Vthat in a moist or:inuddy soil, the earth will adhere tenaciously to the rim oith the bull Wheel and will have the eicfect of increasing the diameterof the same. VAsthe poiver fort-he operative mechanism ot the.v machine, including` the binding mechanismpis taken from this Wheel as above evn Vplained this increased diameter causes fa slower Voperation ot the mechanism for a given distance of travel,` than in the normal condition of the Wheel, andV to counteract tliisgaction7 I provide means operable at .of change-speed mechanism illustrated more Vparticnlarly in Figs. e and 11..V In these 'fgurfesa it will be seen that the sprocket VWheel 36 has fixed toits inner side a second larger sprocket WheelilOS, both ot which are rotated freely on the shaft and are capable of a limited sliding movement longitudinally thereon. `The hub of Wheel 36,V is formed with' clutch teeth 36a adapted, whenv the Wheels are moved to the right (Fig. 11) to engage pin 109 carried bythe shaft7 so i j that in this position the shaitft ivill be driven by the smaller Wheel. The hub ofivheel 108 is' provided with clutch teeth 108n adapted, when the Wheels are shifted to the lett to engage al pin 110 on the shaft and ivhen so engaged,y the shaft ivilil. he driven by the largervivlieel. VAs a result,Y when. the chain is applied to thesmaller sprocket, the operative parts of the machine will be driven at aghigher speed, and when the chain is removed Jf'rom the smaller wheel and applied to the larger' one, the operative parts of the machine will be driven at a reduced speed. The purpose of providing Jfor the shifting of the Wheels along the shaiit is to bring one or the other of the tivo Wheels into alignmentwith` the sprocket Wheel 40 on the buil Wheel, so that when the chain isl applied to either of the wheels7 thechain will extend in a straight path coincident ivith the planes ofi the driving andy driven Wheels. The sprocket wheels are shifted along theV sha-tt .toene position or vanotherby means ot anl upright lever 111 Which extends at its lower teeth 10S1'ivith the pin 110,on shaft 35.;

is the position ofthe parts shown endV through and is conned loosely inV a slot in a bracket`p-later112 VfastenedV to the machine trame, so that the lever can be swung from's'ide toside and vcan also be jmoved toa limited extent at 'right angles toits swingingfmovement. The lever-*carries a horizontal rearwardly projecting 'p in 1513 which extends loosely through the lever and through an arcuate slot 11d in*the'bracketV4 plateY and 4is coniioetedvalt its reaifendY ivih swinging movement o the leverthlis ca the U,-sliapedvlslideliframe0 to Vshift"bach' and forth horizontally. 'lheendlimbs115- and llboitheslide iframe ai'eiormed with V,alignedholes whichV loosely surround rod 116 mounted to slide `endwiseV in guides arms 117 and llSiiXed tothe machine frame.

Tliejrod 116 is provided Vivith'rinvo. pins or lstopsllLL and llo disposed between the has fixed to it, the foward end of anarm 119 Whose rear end 'is formed as at 120 to loosely embrace the hub of the sproc et Wheel 'i Vin an Yannular groove therein. is ay resiilt ot .the constructionV des vlever is shifted to the left tothe position Ashown in Fig. 11, the slidingframe A will u-ribed, ivlieiiV the hand loe likewise shifted,V and bythe engagement of the end limbs thereon lwith, the pins T162 and 116iD ontlie rod, the latter Willfbe cor- Vand therebymove the tivo sprocket `Wheels 3G and *108 to Vthe left. and engageait-he olntffh4 11. YVhefn vnon(` the hand lever to the right to ,its Yother extreme7 movement ot the connected parts place, and theychitch teeth :ngon )vi will be e-ngagedYW-ith the pin 109 oshaft. V-lViththe hand lever in a medial n., tion, both sprocket Wheels will he dise from driving connection With thesini'ity a n d ivillbe rotated idly thereon Without impart4 ing motion to the shaft. alluded to as carried bythe hand lover find as being Vconnected withtlie U-shaped sliding lframe '115, is encircled by a spiral spri j* 120l which bears at its' inner end against the liever and at itsouter end'agi inst a head 121 on Ltheendlot the pin. i This constiu' tion permits the lever to be moved to and 'from the l'racket plate 112 in order that a locking pin 122 fixed tothe lever` may he engaged in or disengaged from eithen oil three holes 123, 124iand Y125 in the bracket plate in order to hold the lever in either of the three positions above mentioned. Y V7 ith the locliing pin engaged in hole 123, the sliding The pin 112i beforeV loo Y iespondingly moved .and i'villfshiit arm-119 rrpressine, I provide a frame 115 will. be held in a position where the clutcliteeth of sprocket wheel 108 will be engaged with'pin 110 on the shaft. lilith the locking pin in hole 125, the sliding frame will be held where the teeth of sprocket wheel 36 will be engaged with pin 109 on the shaft; and vwith the locking pin in the central hole 124,- the sliding frame will be held with the sprockets in a medial position and neitherengaged with the shaft.

` In order that the clutch teeth ot the t-wo sprockets will be engaged with yielding spring 126 which is connected at its inner end with the shifting arm 119 and at its outer end withV the outer end of a tumbler arm 127 whose inner end is pivoted as at 128 to a lug 129 extending upwardly from the bracket plate 112. The form and relation of these parts are such that when the tumbler arm is in the position shown in Fig. 11, the spring will be under tension and will exert a pull on the shifting arm 119 and will hold it yieldingly with the clutch teeth on wheel 108 engaged with the pin 110 on the shaft, the sliding frame 115 being held by the actuating lever with the two limbs of the frame free of the pins 116a and 116b on rod 116. When the and locked in position with its locking pin engaging in hole 125, spring 126 will pull on the shifting arm and hold the clutch teeth 36a of wheel 36 yieldingly engaged with pin 109 on the shaft, the sliding frame 115 being held as before with its end limbs disengaged from the pins on rod 116.

In the operation of the mechanism, when the parts are in the position as shown in Figs. 11 and 1, the rotation of the bull wheel will be transmitted to the operative parts of the machine through the smaller sprocket wheel 86 at increased speed, this wheel being employed when there is an accumulation of earth or mud on the bull wheel. In changingthe speed to a slower rate for operation under normal conditions, the tumbler arm 127 is irst swung over to the right (Fig. 11) thereby causing the spring to exertV a pull on the shifting arm 119 in a direction to shift the sprocket wheels 108 and 36 to the right and engage the clutch teeth of wheel 36 with thepin 109 on the shaft, this action bringing the larger wheel into alignment with the sprocket wheel on the bull wheel, it being understood thatv previous to the change in the position of the tumbler arm, the chain 39 was removed from the smaller wheel. The attendant then disengages locking pin 122 on the hand lever from the hole in the bracket plate in which it was engaged, and the frame 115 being thus released, spring 126 will act to shift rod 116 to the right, the sliding frame being moved with it due to the engagement of pin 116a with the limb 115D of the sliding frame, and since the sliding fra-me is connected with lever 111 by the pin 113, the actuating lever will be correspondingly moved, the attendant by retaining hold of the lever being able to control the movement of the same under the influence of spring 126. lVhen the locking pin on the lever arrives in position opposite the hole 125, the lever is released by the attendant and spring 120a acting on the lever, will cause the locking pin to enter the hole, and the lever will be locked in position. In this position of the leiser, the sliding frame will be held in such position that the teeth on wheel 36 will be engaged with pin 109 on the shaft, which engagement is maintained by the spring 126, due to the fact that pin 116a is out ot engagement with the frame. being nowin alignment with the sprocket wheel on the bull wheel, the driving chain is applied to wheel 108, and the rotation of the bull wheel will be transmitted to the operative parts of the mechanism through wheel 108 at a reduced speed. When it is desired to prevent the operation of the shaft 35, and consequently the operation of the parts of the machine, the two sprocket wheels 108 and 36 are adjusted to a medial position out of engagement with both pins 109 and 110 on the shaft. This is effected by first swinging the tumbler arm to a vertical position andthen releasing the actuating lever from its locked position to the right or left as the case may be, and adjusting it to a central position, and finally engaging the locking pin on the lever in the central hole 124 of the bracket plate.

In order that the driver may control the delivery of the bound bundles to the ground, I provide a bundle carrier of Vimproved form and construction and consistingv of a receptacle or pan 128 mounted on the stubble side of the main frame at the discharge end of the stalk passage and movable from a substantially horizontal position, in which position it will receive the bundles delivered by the binding mechanism, to a substantially vertical position to discharge the bundles to the ground, suitable controlling devices being provided which are connected with the receptacle and extended within reach of the drivers foot where they terminate in a foot lever, the said controlling devices being of such form and construction that by pressing down on the foot lever the driver may hold the pan in its horizontal receiving position until the desired number of bundles have been received, whereupon by letting up on the foot lever, the weight of the bundles will swing the pan down and the bundles will be discharged to the ground. This construction is shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 12 where it will be seen that the pan has fixed to its The wheel 108 under side at opposite endsybearngi's 129 Ywhich encircle a supporting rod 1.30 tixedly mounted at its ends in Abrackets 131. sustained by the main traine ot the machine, the pan being thus'supported on an axisso that it may swing down troni the substan- 'tially horizontal receivingT position as -shovin by full lines inV Fig. 12 to a substantially vertical position as shown by dotted lines in said figure. VThe supportingf axis is disposed nearer to the inner edge oi: the pan thantoits outer edge so that there will' beV a preponderance otiiveight supportedV out- Ward oi'i theV axis to facilitate the doivn swing of the pan Vin the discharging;- operation.V T he controllingdevices by which the driver is enabled to control the operation ot the pan, comprise in the present instancea toot `lever 132 having onits inner end a rock shaft 133 mounted in a bearin` i 13% on the machine iframe, and havingon. its outer end al'foot rest 135. The rock sha-'it has con- .nected With it. a crank arinii'lf-G to which Vis pivoted the forward end oi' a lnilr 137 Whose rear end is pivoted to ay crank arin 13S fixed to a i'oclc shaft 1.39 inountediii bean ings on the traine and limiiigl connected with it an arni 140. A ychain 141 is connected With the end of Vthe 140 and with the pan at its inner edge. The iorin, construction and relation oit tlieseparts is such that VWhen the driver with Vhis 'Foot on the foot rest swings theV foot lever 132 down to the position shown in Fig. 12, the pan will be held in a horizontal receiving` position shown by full lines. ln this position,

the bundles are received from the binding inechanisina and when the required number has been accumulated for delivery to the ground. the driver lets up with 'his toot on the Jroot lever and' the Weight oi' thebnndles Will cause the pan to swing downwardly on its pivotal axis as shown by dotted lines, thereby delivering the bundles Vinstantly and directly to the ground Without. undue shock or violence. A'lter the discharge oit theibundies, the driver airain' presses 'forwardly and downwardly on the toot lever and restoresVV the pan to its former horizontal receiving' position 'to' receive another load. lt Will-be observed that when the carrier is held in vits receiving position by the depression of the i'ioot lever, the link 137 will extend along;-

Vside the cra-nk arm 136 in substantial alifrnrotatable with the knotter shaft, and at its inner end it is provided with a lingerV e carrying a Vroller 75f which travels in a Y p cam'groove `75g in a iixed caniv plate 75 Wardlyi'oinfthe inwardly grooved'fposition 753i. As a result the bundlevrill yberposi'-v tively ejected with a quick forceful inotion and by its inornentuin will be caused to leave the stalkpassag'ewitli celerity and certainty.

sustained by the tubular arni (5d-oi:VV the binderV Vtraine. Y The canigroov'eis of suchcontourYV Vthat the-ejector -itapproaches Vthe bundle Y y from the rear, will be projected outivardly 1 Vand rocked oniits pivotal airis 751 nndrvvill Vbe caused to sweep forwardly with aquicirV ejeotingiinotion, due` to the-sharpturnr wh ich Y the cam gn'oove,maires-Where it extends out.

Due to the-proximity Votthe ejector to*- Vthelbnllivheeh'.more particulartly Vwhen Ythe binding mechanism 1s adjusted to its -lovvef`V positiorn il' the ejector swings around in extended relation tothe actuating arin as shown by ull linesKFig. .13) it will .engage with the bull wvlieel, and to prevent Y. this interferencd'l provide alstop deviceio'r pin 75k which extends upivardlyiiroin the` cam plate and in the path o'l' theV ejector7 the` engagement, of the ejector with the pin, Vas

the actuatingarrrirsvvings past the bull whee causing' theejectorjto swing inwardly on the pivotal axis as shown by the dotted lines to vthejle'ft inFig. 13, and enablinggit to pass the b ull Wheel Without interference therewith. i* Y .Y

ln the foregoing description and'accompanyingidraivings I have setj forthV my inventionV inthe particularV detailed forni Vivhichl prefer to adopt and Whicliin pracf `tice'has been found to 'answer 'to a satisfactory degree" the ends to be'attained. lt i will be manifest however tliat various changes may be niade in the parteV Without departing troni the liniits ofinyfinvention;

and it will lbe understood that the invention vis not limited to any particular forin or such limitations are specified in the clainis.

` Having thus described ifny invention, what' i olaini is: Y

` 1. 'ln a corn lia-i`vestei,'tlie combination or a niain trarne provided ivith'a stalk passage in Awhich. the stalks are conveyed in an upright position, Ya bottom for said passage to support the butts of the stalks, ineans'for adj ustinoj said bottoni relative to the passage iio construction ofthe partsyexcept iii-so tar asV in the direction ofthe length of the stalks,

an automatic binding mechanism sustained by the main framein positionto act on the stalks in the passage. and means independent ot the bottoni adj ust-ing means 'for adjusting the binding mechanism relative to the pas-VV sage in a direction lengthwise of the/stalks. V

2. ln a corn harvester, the'coinbination of a inain frame provided With astallr pas` sage in Wliiclrthe stallrsfare; conveyed in iso an upright position, a cutting mechanism for severing the standing stalks, a bottom for said passage to support the butts ot the cut stalks, the forward end ot said bottom being provided with a resilient portion connected with the main trame in rear et the cutting mechanism to enable the bottom to be adjusted up and down,and means connected with the bottom for adjusting it up and down. y

3. i corn harvester having a main frame provided with a sta-lk passage in which the stalks are conveyed in an `upright position, a bottom for said passage to support the butts of the stalks, means for adjusting` said bottom relative to the passage in the direction of the length of the stalks, automatic binding mechanism sustained by the main frame in position to act on the stalks in t-he passage, and mea-ns 'for adjusting thehinding` mechanism relative to the stalk passage in the direction of the length of the stalks whereby both the binding mechanism and thebottom of the stalk passage may be ad? justed to adapt the machine to eiiiciently handle stalks of diii'erent lengths` 4. In a corn harvester. the combination of a main frame provided with a stalk passage in which the stalks are conveyed in an upright position, a cutting mechanism for severing the standing stalks, a bottom for the stalk passage to support the butts of the stalks', said bottom being formed with a resilient portion connected with the main frame in rear of the cutting mechanism to permit the bottom to be adjusted up and down, and said bottom being movable to a limited extent endwise relative to the 'passage, and means connected with the bottom for adjusting it 'up and down lengthwise of the stalks. y j

5. In a corn harvester, the combination of a main frame provided with a stalk passage in which the stalks are adapted to be conveyed in an upright position, conveying mechanism associated with said passage and adapted to act on the stalks and convey them rearwardly therein,` said conveying mechanism being movable relative to the passage lengthwise of the stalks, an automatic binding mechanism sustained by the mainframe tor binding the stalks into bundles and ad'- justa-ble relative to the stalk passage lengthwise ot the stalks, means for adjusting the bindingl mechanism` and connections between the bindingl mechanism and conveying mechanism to cause the latter to be adjusted with the former. i

6. In a corn harvester, the combination ot a main frame provided with a stalk passage, conveyor boards and associated conveyor chains on opposite sides of said pas sage by which the stalks rare conveyed rearwardly in the passage in an upright position, said boards and chains being movable right position,a conveyor board on each Y side of the passage, a conveyor chain associated with each board, said boards and chains being movable relatively to the passage in the direction of the length of the stalks, a binder frame sustained by the main frame, means for adjusting the binder frame relative to the passage lengthwise of the stalks, automatic binding mechanism mounted in the binder frame, and members connecting said binder frame with the respective conveyor boards to cause the latter to be adjusted with the binder frame.

8. In a corn harvester, the combination of a main frame provided with a stalk passage in which the stalks are conveyed in an upright position7 conveyor boards pivoted at their forward ends to the main frame at the forward end of the stalk passage to move up and down relative thereto and extending on opposite sides of the passage, conveying devices associated with the boards and adapted toV act on the stalks and convey them rear wardly in said passage, and means for adjusting said boards and conveying devices relatively to the passage lengthwise of the stalks.

9. In a. corn harvester, the combination of a main frame provided wit-h a sta-lk passage to receive the stalks in an upright position, and forward extensions on the-main frame at the' `forward end of said passage, conveyor boards at the sides of the passage pivoted at their forward ends to said extensions so as to move up and down lengthwise of the stalks, conveying devices associated with the conveyor boards and supported thereby, and means for adjusting said conveyor boards up and down lengthwise ot the stalks.

l0. In a corn harvester, the combination of a main :Frame provided with a sta-lk passage in which the stalks are conveyed inan upright position, conveyor boards at the opposite sides of said passage mounted on the main frame to move up and down lengthwise of the stalks, upright shafts sustained by the main frame and extending looselyv through said boards respectively, means for driving said shafts, -`sprocket wheels splined to the shafts to move up and down with the boards relatively to the shafts, conveyor chainspassing around said sprockets at one end, guide wheels sustained by the boards and around which the conveyor chains pass at their opposite ends, and means vfor adjusting' the boards up and down. Y.

Y 11. In a. corn harvester, the combination of a main frame provided with a stalk passage and with forward extensions constituting the entrance-to said passage, conveyor boards extending atV the opposite sidcsot the passage and pivoted-atV their 'forward ends to said forward extensions, blocks iixcd to the forward ends of theconveyor boards and terminating in divider points, divider boards sustained by theconveyor boards abovetlie saine and fixed at-their forward ends to the divider points, whereby thev conveyor boards and divider boards may beV moved up and down relative tothe stalk passage lengthwise of the stalks, and conveying devices sustained by the conveyor boards and movable up `and down with them.

12.` In a corn harvesterthe combination off a main frame provided witli-astalk passage in which the stalks are conveyed in an upright position, said traine Jformed with an upright guideway at the rear end ot the stalk passage, a slide movable in said guideway and formed with rack teeth, a binder frame sustained bythe slide, automatic binding mechanism mounted lin thebinder framevand adapted to act on the stalks and bind them into bundles, an operating inember for the slide, and a pinion thereon meshing'with the rack; whereby bythe actuation of the operating member, -the binding Vmechanism may be adjusted relative to the stalk assage Vlengthwise of thestalks.

13. n acorn harvester, the combination of a main frame provided with a stalkpassage in which the stalks are conveyed inan upright position, conveyor boards extending on opposite sides of the stalk passage and mounted ontlie frame tomove up and down relatively thereto, conveyor chains associated with the boards and :movable up Aand down with them, Va U-shaped binder l will be adjusted with it.

14:. Ina corn harvester, the combination of a main frame provided with a stalk passage in which the stalks are'conveyed in an `upright position, a slide mounted in the main frame-to move up and down and comprising end members and a cross connecting bar,

means for adjusting'the slide upland down, a binder frame sustained by said cross bar, and automatic binding mechanism mounted in the binder` frame to act Yon thestalks.

15. In a corn harvester, the 'combination of a.V main frame provided with a stalk passage in which the stalks are conveyed in an uprightposition, 'a slide mounted-lin the main frame to move up and down and coin-V prising end members provided with racks and a cross bar connecting said end membersl cross bar, automatic binding mechanism vmounted in the binder'fraine to act onthe stalks, a rotary shaftmounted'on the` main trame, and pinions on the shaft meshing with the racks on theV end members.

together, a binder trame sustained'by thevr soV 16.*Ina corn harvester, thecombination A of a main frame provided with` a stalk pas- Y sage in which the stalks are conveyed inan upright position, lower conveyor boards extending on opposite sides of theV passage and fixed on vthe main frame, 'lower conveyor chains associated with said bars, plates fixed Y to said boards and extending upwardly at the opposite sides oi. the stalk passage, ripper conveyor boards extending on opposite si des,

of the stalk passage above the lower boards and movable up and down-relative to the lower boards, upper conveyor chains associated with the said upper conveyor boards and Vmovable with ithem, plates depending from the upper conveyor boards and .extending alongsidethe plates on the lower boards, and means for adjusting the `upper boards up and down-lengthwise ,ofthe stalks.

17. `In a corn harvesten'the combinationof a main frame'provided-with a stalk. passage in which the stalks are-,conveyed'in an upright position, a binder frame mounted in the main framefor adjustment up-and down and having automatic binding mechanism mounted'inV it to act von the stalks, means for `adjusting the binder frame upand down lengthwise of thestalks, and a counter-balancing means forthe bindermechanism'sus- Y tained by the mainframe and operatively connected with thebinder `frame. Y Y

18. In a corn harvester, the combination of a main frame provided with a stalk passagein which-the stalks' areconveyed in an i'ipright position, a slide mounted for Vadjustment up and down in the main frame lengthwise of the stalks, a binder frame carried by the slide and provided with automatic binding mechanism to act on the stalks, means for adjusting ythe binder frame, a tore andV aft extending lever pivoted at one end tothe main frame andconnect-ed with the slide, and aA counter-balancing spring connected at its upper end'with-the main frame and connected atrits lower end with saidlever.

19. In a corn harvester, the combinationoi a main frame provided with a stalk vpassage 

